Qatar-Turkish Business Forum Kicks Off

Doha, September 29 (QNA) - The Qatar-Turkish Business Forum, which was organized by Qatar Chamber (QC), has kicked off on Tuesday through a video conference with the participation of about 1500 Qatari and Turkish companies. During the event, the two sides reviewed trade and investment cooperation and discussed establishing alliances and partnerships that support both countries' economies. The forum's Qatar-Turkish Matchmaking Platform witnessed large turnout and business meetings from many Qatari and Turkish companies. Qatar Chamber (QC) Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Thani and Vice-President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) HE Selcuk Ozturk presided over . Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Turkey HE Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the State of Qatar, H E Mehmet Mustafa Goksu, alongside with a number of leading Qatari and Turkish businessmen attended the webinar. Addressing the forum, Sheikh Khalifa stressed the forum's importance in shedding light on bolstering cooperation between Qatari and Turkish businessmen and promoting trade exchange and investment opportunities available in both sides. He said that this forum came in the light of the strong and close relation between Qatar and Turkey, especially in the economic and commercial aspects, noting that both countries' leaderships are keenly interested in developing both countries' bilateral relations in all aspects. On his part, Vice-President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) HE Selcuk Ozturk praised the economic relations between both countries, noting that fields of economic cooperation between them are witnessing great increase thanks to bilateral meetings and joint forums between businessmen from both sides. Ozturk also noted that the trade volume between Qatar and Turkey stood at $2 billion last year, while Turkish investments in Qatar reached about $120million, pointing out that Turkey came in the fourth place for Qatari imports in the first half of this year. HE stressed that number of Qatari companies working in Turkey reached 179 companies in various fields. For his part, the Ambassador of Qatar to Turkey HE Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi said that both countries are bound by close and distinct, pointing out that the signing of the Joint Strategic Committee in 2014 has contributed to the expansion of cooperation. He affirmed that the joint commercial agreements between both sides contributed to providing facilitation to investors in the two countries, and contributed to raising the volume of investments, whether governmental or private sector. His Excellency also pointed out holding such meetings would contribute to bringing businessmen in both countries together to learn about the most important investment opportunities available in both sides, in addition to discussing any obstacles that prevent increasing trade between them. Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Qatar HE Mehmet Mustafa Goksu eluded the close relations between both brotherly countries, terming them as "historic and exceptional" and covering all areas. HE pointed out that the Turkish embassy in Doha is ready to help Qatari businessmen who are interested to invest in Turkey or cooperate with Turkish companies. During the event, many presentations about investment and trade were delivered by both sides. Talal Ahmad Al Mahmoud, Strategy Analyst at Qatar Investment Promotion Agency, Abdulla Al Naimi, Investment Manager at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), and Fahad Al Kuwari, Markets Manager of Qatar Free Zone Authority highlighted the economic incentives offered by Qatar and the role of Investment Promotion Agency in Qatar, while Head of Department Ministry of Industry and Technology Lale Eray introduced a presentation on the investment programs offered by the Turkish Government to foreign companies.